alliances with other producers and distributors to manufacture and market their VCR format. Seeking to maintain exclusive control over VCR distribution. Beta producers were reluctant to form such alliances and eventually lost ground to VHS in the competition for the global VCR market.
Despite Beta's substantial technological head start and the fact that VHS was neither technically better nor cheaper than Beta, developers of VHS quickly turned a slight early lead in sales into a dominant position. Strategic alignments with producers of prerecorded tapes reinforced the VHS advantage. The perception among consumers that prerecorded tapes were more available in VHS format further expanded VHS's share of the market. By the end of the 1980's, Beta was no longer in production.
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1. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
A . Tracing the impact of a new technology by narrating a sequence of events. B . Illustrating a business strategy by means of a case history. C . Evaluating two competing technologies.
D . Reinterpreting an event from contemporary business history.
正确答案:Illustrating a business strategy by means of a case history.
题目详解:Evaluating two competing technologies.评价两种竞争技术，原文没有相应的文字支持。Tracing the impact of a new technology by narrating a sequence of events.追溯一新技术影响，讲述一系列事件，原文没有相应的文字支持。Reinterpreting an event from contemporary business history重解释一事件，原文没有相应的文字支持。Illustrating a business strategy by means of a case history正确，举一历史例证来描述一商业策略。该策略即为第一段最后一句：发展大规模生产销售联合战略。例证为二、三段叙述。 2. According to the passage, today's successful firms, unlike successful firms in the past, may earn the greatest profits by ______.
A . emphasizing the development of methods for the mass production and distribution of a new technology
B . adapting rapidly to a technological standard previously set by a competing firm C . being the first to market a competing technology
D . investing in research to produce cheaper versions of existing technology 正确答案:emphasizing the development of methods for the mass production and distribution of a new technology
题目详解:如今成功企业和过去成功企业不同，主要靠什么得到最大盈利？这是第一段最后作者结论中明确回答的全文中心。所以emphasizing the development of methods for the mass production and distribution of a new technology正确，强调发展大规模生产，销售的新技术。其他不符合原文结论。
3. According to the passage, consumers began to develop a preference for VCR's in the VHS format because they believed which of the following?
A . VCR's in the VHS format were technically better than competing-format VCR's. B . VHS prerecorded videotapes were more available than Beta-format tapes. C . VHS was the first standard format for VCR's.
D . VCR's in the VHS format were less expensive than competing-format VCR's.
正确答案:VHS prerecorded videotapes were more available than Beta-format tapes. 题目详解:消费者一开始偏好VHS型号的录像机是因为他们相信：VCR's in the VHS format were technically better than competing-format VCR's技术更好。原文第三段第一句技术，价格都没有优势。VHS was the first standard format for VCR's是最初的录像机型号。最初是Beta型号。VHS prerecorded videotapes were more available than Beta-format tapes正确，其预录磁带比其他型号易得。见第二段倒数第二句。
4. The author implies that one way that VHS producers won control over the VCR market was by ______.
A . carefully restricting access to VCR technology
B . giving up a slight early lead in VCR sales in order to improve long-term prospects
C . sharing control of the marketing of VHS-format VCR's
D . retaining a strict monopoly on the production of prerecorded videotapes 正确答案:sharing control of the marketing of VHS-format VCR's
题目详解:作者指出VHS生产者控制录像机生产的途径是：carefully restricting access to VCR technology严格遵守技术。giving up a slight early lead in VCR sales in order to improve long-term prospects放弃早期微弱领先以获得长期效益。retaining a strict monopoly on the production of prerecorded videotapes保持预录磁带的严格垄断。此三点原文均未提。sharing control of the marketing of VHS-format VCR's与其他生产者分享对VHS型号的市场控制。即原文第二段第一句联合其他生产者和销售商。
5. Which of the following best describes the relation of the first paragraph to the passage as a whole?
A . It poses a question to be answered.
B . It advances an argument to be disputed.
C . It makes a general observation to be exemplified. D . It outlines a process to be analyzed.
正确答案:It makes a general observation to be exemplified.
题目详解:第一段和全文的关系：从结构出发：第一段指出观点，后面举了录像机生产的例子。所以It makes a general observation to be exemplified正确，提供一有待举例的概括观察。
Jean Sibelius felt very much alone because he couldn't accept the music of that day. He believed that one should be able to make for oneself an ideal by reflection, and thought that modern music did not progress because it marked time without moving a step farther.
When he began work on his fifth Symphony, Europe and his beloved Finland were being ravaged by World War I. He wrote in September of 1914. \I already begin to see dimly the mountain that I shall certainly ascend… God opens His door for a moment and His orchestra plays the Fifth Symphony.\But from the very first he was full of doubts about this work. He wasn't sure whether or not he should have begun on the Fifth Symphony. He suffered a good deal for having persevered in composing symphonies at a time when practically all composers had turned to other forms of expression.
The Fifth Symphony was competed late in 1915. It was performed on the composer's fiftieth birthday which was declared a national holiday. Sibelius conducted the concert but he was not satisfied with this new work. In October of 1916, he revised the Symphony but a performance two months later still did not satisfy him. ________________________________________
1. In the opinion of Sibelius, modern music ______. A . Did not make much progress B . Made much progress C . Was too romantic D . Was somewhat ideal
正确答案:Did not make much progress
题目详解:依据问题中?In the opinion of Sibelius, modern music?的提示，从第一段最后一句中?and thought that modern music did not progress 认为现代音乐并没有发展?提供的信息判断，选项中的\was not sure whether or not he should begin on the symphony when all other composers had changed forms\含义相关。 2. How did Sibelius feel after conducting the Fifth Symphony in 1915? A . He was content with his conducting. B . He was certain about his work.
C . He wasn't happy about his new work. D . He was doubtful about his conducting.
正确答案:He wasn't happy about his new work.
题目详解:依据问题中?How did Sibelius feel after conducting the Fifth Symphony in 1915?的提示，从最后一段的第3句中?but he was not satisfied with this new work.?提供的信息判断，选项中的\wasn't happy about his new work\含义相关。
3. When Europe and Finland were destroyed by World War I, how did he feel about his new work?
A . He felt like continuing Fifth Symphony.
B . He was too depressed by the war to play the Fifth Symphony. C . He liked to see his new work played by others. D . He decided to give it up.
正确答案:He felt like continuing Fifth Symphony.
题目详解:依据问题中?When Europe and Finland were destroyed by World War I?的提示，从第2段第3句中?see dimly the mountain that I shall certainly ascend … God opens His door for a moment and His orchestra plays the Fifth Symphony?提供的信息判断，选项中的 \felt like continuing Fifth Symphony\含义相关。依据问题中?When Europe and Finland were destroyed by World War I?的提示，从第2段第3句中?see dimly the mountain that I shall certainly ascend … God opens His door for a moment and His orchestra plays the Fifth Symphony?提供的信息判断，选项中的 \felt like continuing Fifth Symphony\含义相关。
4. At what age did he conduct the Fifth Symphony for the first time? A . 50 years old. B . 53 years old
C . 51 years old. D . 52 years old.
正确答案:50 years old.
题目详解:依据问题中?At what age did he conduct the Fifth Symphony?的提示，从最后一段第2句中?It was performed on the composer's fiftieth birthday?提供的信息判断，选项中的 \years old\含义相关。
5. What was his problem when he began to compose symphonies? A . He believed he didn't reflect the art form. B . He was not fond of his creative way.
C . He was not sure whether or not he should begin on the symphony when all other composers had changed forms.
D . He thought he neglected the main theme.
正确答案:He was not sure whether or not he should begin on the symphony when all other composers had changed forms.
题目详解:依据问题中?What was his problem when?的提示，从第2段倒数第1句中?He suffered a good deal for having persevered in composing symphonies at a time when practically all composers had turned to other forms of expression.他非常焦虑的是在所有音乐家都转向其他方向时还坚持谱写交响曲?提供的信息判断，选项中的\was not sure whether or not he should begin on the symphony when all other composers had changed forms\含义相关。
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if \things are equal\Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions. ________________________________________
1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may ______. A . worry those who rent apartments as homes B . cause a shortage of apartments
C . encourage landlords to invest in building apartment D . increase the profits of landlords
正确答案:cause a shortage of apartments
题目详解:问题问的是规定最高租金可能会导致什么结果。文章第一段明确指出，landlords（房东）收取租户的租金有了最高限额，所以他们的利润受到影响，也可能导致他们投资其他行业，鉴于此，increase the profits of landlords、encourage landlords to invest in building apartment都是错误的。worry those who rent apartments as homes “使房为家的人担忧”文中没有涉及，也不对。依据第一段最后一句话：... the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.可知cause a shortage of apartments为正确答案。
2. We can safely say that rent control ______. A . will bring negative effects in the long run B . is necessary under all circumstances C . is unnecessary
D . will always benefit those who rent apartments
正确答案:will always benefit those who rent apartments
题目详解:解答该题只要准确理解第二段的含义，尤其从第四句话开始：However, if the minimum is high ... Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment.此题较简单。
3. The problem of unemployment will arise ______. A . if the minimum wage is set too low B . if the maximum wage is set C . if the workers are unskilled
D . if the minimum wage is set too high
正确答案:if the minimum wage is set too high
题目详解:解答该题只要准确理解第二段的含义，尤其从第四句话开始：However, if the minimum is high ... Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment.此题较简单。
4. The passage tells us ______.
A . the possible results of government controls B . the necessity of government control